Pressure-regulator



(No Model.)

V. H. HIGGINS 8v W. D. SMITH.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Patented Sept. 27, 1892.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VAN H. HIGGINS AND WILLIAM D. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRESSURE-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,516, dated September 2'?, 1892.

Application filed June Z9, 1891. Serial No.397,774, (No model.) y

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, VAN H. HIGGINS and WILLIAM D. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mercurial Gas-Governors, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to pressure-regulators or mercurial gas-governors of that class in which the flow of gas is regulated by a float arranged to dip into a body of mercury and a valve connected with and operated by the iioat, and while in some respects generally applicable for automatically controlling the flow of gas from a source of supply to the point or points of consumption; it is more particularly designed for service in direct connection with any ordinary or desired construction of gas-fixture, such as abracket, chandelier, and the like.

The objects of our invention are to establish a uniform supply of gas to a burner or burners and to automatically check the supply of gas in excess of such predetermined rate, so as to preventivaste; to provide a simple, compact, and efficient construction of pressure-regulator which can be incorporated in a gastixture without rendering the latter either unsightly or otherwise objectionable;Y

to render the valve by which the supply is governed readily responsive to an excess of pressure, and to provide certain novel and improved details, all serving to increase the general efficiency and utilityof pressure-regulators.

In a mercurial gas-governor involving our invention the gas-conducting passage is arranged to connect with a source of supply and can be used for supplying one or more burners, as may be desired. The gas-conducting passage is at a point Within the regulator expanded to form a pressure-distributing cham-- ber from which the gas is delivered to the burner or burners. The flow of gas into the pressure-distributing chamber is established through a valved supply-port, which is desirabiy formed through the bottom of said chamber. The valve for the supply-port is automatically operated by a float which is adapted to form an open -bottom pressure-chamber, partially submerged in and sealed by a body of fluid, such as mercury. rThis pressure chamber is practically formed by such space Within the Iloat as is not occupied by the mercury, and hence the area of the pressurechamber is variable, since it is dependent on the extent to which the iioat sinks into the mercury. The pressure-chamber is in open communication with the gas-conducting passage at the delivery side of the valved supplyport, and as a means for establishing such communication a passage is arranged to extend from the pressure-distributing chamber to what may be termed the floating pressure chamber. The valve and float are so connected that when an increment oi' pressure within the pressure chamber serves to cause the float to rise the movement of the oat will cause the valve to close the supplyport to an extent to limit the supply, and thereby prevent waste at the burner or burners. The ioat can be Weighted proportionally to the number and size of the burners and also in accordance with the altitude at which the device is used, and the pressure-chamber is made annular and arranged to surround either a burner or a passage leading to or from the apparatus.

The matters of construction and arrangement involved in a mercurial gas-governor of such description and constituting our improvement therein are hereinafter described in connection with the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis avertical central section through an automatic gas-governor or pressure-regulator embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the body with its cap I removed. Fig. 3 illustrates the loat which serves to form a pressure-chamber. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section corresponding generally with Fig. 1, but involving certain different features of construction hereinafter set forth. Fig. 5 represents in perspective and ou a smaller scale the device of Fig. l.

In the drawings we have represented two IOO have employed corresponding letters and fig- Y ures as a means for designating them.

The severalcoustructions involveV in common with one another a gas-conducting passage formed through Va shell or body'A, and a valve B, arranged for automatically Vregulating the flow ofigas through said passage. The gas-conducting passage is expanded at the supplyside o the valve, so as to ferm a receiving-chambcr C, and also expanded at the delivery side of thervalve to form what we may term a Epressure-distributing chamber D. The port 1 for the valve is formed through a partition between the receiving-chamber and the pressure-distributing chamber, and the valve'is desirably arranged to open at the supply side of the port. r1`he stem 2 of the valve is connected with an inverted open-bottom fioat Egwhich is partially submerged in a body 3 of mercury contained within a chamber in the upper portion of the shell or body A.

The oat E consists of an annuiar cap or inverted annular cup formed with van annular top 4, having two marginal concentric sides or anges 5 and 6, which depend from said top. By such construction the parts 4, 5, and 6 of the oat form the top and side walls of an annular open-bottom pressurechamber F, which is sealed at its open bottom by the mercury into which it dips.

I The top portion of the body A is recessed, so as to provide a chamber for the mercury, inte which the iioat will sink to an extent proportional to the weight of the float and the degree of pressure within said chamber. As a simple and economical arrangement we cast the body A with a couple of concentric an-k nular recesses 7 and Sand form through the annular wall or rib 9 which is left between such recesses a vertical passage lO, which serves both to place what may be termed the floating pressure-chamber in communication with the pressure-distributing chamber D and also to provide a passage for the stem 2 of the valve B.

With referencev to the construction shown in Fig. 1 the body A is formed with a centrally-arranged bore, which extends from the top of said body to and into the pressure-distributing chamber D, and the annular chamber or recess 7 is formed so as to leave a neck 11 about said bore. The wall of this bore is threaded and the base G of a burner-tip Gr is screwed into the same, in which way the burner-tip is in open communication with the pressure-distributing chamber. The pressure-distributing chamber is arranged within the middle portion of the bodyA and is preferably of a circular shallow form. The passage 12 in 'the-burner is positioned centrally with relation to the pressure distributing chamber, While the supply-port 1 is at one side ot' the center of said chamber. The body A is at its base provided with a neck 13,which can be coupled to the supply-pipe in a gasburner bracket or fixture in any suitable way, and the passage 14 through said neck is arranged to extend a short distance up within the body A of the device.

The passage 14k connects at its upper end with the laterallyarranged receiving-chamber C, which latter communicates with the pressure-distributing chamber through the port 1 and affords room for the downwardly-opening valve.

By the fcregoing-described construction an exceedingly-compact arrangementisattained. Thus the supply-passage 14 is below and in alignment-with the delivery or burner passage 12,V which latter leads up from a centraliy-located shallow pressure-distributing chamber which is separated from the supply-passage 14 and chamber C by a partition 16,V wherein the port 1 is formed. The valve-stem extends up through the distributingchamber, and since the rib orwall 9,which forms a division in the recess or chamber for the mercury, need be no higher than the outer wall 18 of such recess, the provision of said rib or wall does not add to the height or bulk of the device. To permit access to be had to the valve, we tap the bottom wall of chamber C at a peint under the valve and provide for the opening thus formed a plug 19.

In Figs. 1 and 4 we provide a guide or steady pin H and arrange the same to Work through an upper guide-opening 2O in the annular rib or wall 9, and a lower bearing 21, which is formed in the lower portion of the body of the case. The bearing 21 is arranged between the distributing-chamberE and a small chamber or recess 22, which is formed in the body of the case and closed by a plug 23. The recess 22 serves to receive a head on the lower end ot' the pin, which is at its upper end secured to the top wall of the ioating pressure-chamber. The valve-stem is at its upper end suitably secured to the top wall of the doating pressure-chamber, a convenient way being to provide-said wall with bearings into which the steady-pin and valve-stem are screwed.

Vith further reference to Fig. 1 the floating pressure-chamber is weighted so as to leave the valve normally open, it being understood that when the burner is not in use the supply can be cut off byclosing a cockin such gas-bracket arm or pipe as may be connected with the passage 14. When the cock last mentioned is opened, the flow ot' gas will be upwardly through the regulator, as indicated by the arrows. rFhus the gas will flow into thereceiving-chamber C, thence through port 1 into the pressure-distributin g chamber,

and thence to the burner. Vhere thesupplypressure is in excess of the demand at the burner-tip there will be a proportional extent Yot` back-pressure within the distributing pressure-cl1amber,aud this will causewithin the chamber of the ioat a corresponding pressure, whereby the floating pressure-chamber will rise in the mercury and close the valve to an extent proportional to the excess of pressure. Hence the pressure in excess of practical rcquirements serves to automatically decrease the supply and prevent waste, it being understood that the pressure-chamber is-in open IOO communication with the burnerat the delivery side of" the valve, that it is responsive to back pressure caused by any and all resistance to the delivery of gas under pressure in excess of the required pressure and volume, and that the float or floating pressure-chamber can be adjusted with reference to the normal condi-V tion of the valve and its allotted function of graduating the area of the supply-port 1 by weighting the float in accordance with requirements.

In Fig. 4 the passage 12 of Fig. 1 is not present, and the body is tapped at its sides for the reception of the hollow burner-arms 24. In said constructions the body is provided withva cap I, which can be removed in order topermit access to behad to the float. The cap I can be closed, as in Fig. t, or provided with a centrally-arranged opening in its top for a burner, as in Fig. 1.

` With further reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the annular mercurychamber and annular pressure-chamber are arranged to surround a vertical centrally-arranged portion ot' the gas-conducting passage. Thus in said Fig. 1 the mercury-chamber and pressure-chamber surround a passage 12, which constitutes an outlet for the flow of gas from the pressure distributing chamber to the burner-tip. This arrangement is exceedingly serviceable and permits the regulator to be incorporated within a gas-fixture without rendering the same in any Wise objectionable.

The special construction of divided annular mercury-holding chamber and inverted annular cup-shaped float adapted to provide a pressure-chamber and arranged so that its concentric vertical anges shall dip, respectively, into the inner and outer annular concentric compartments ot' said mercury-holding recess or chamber is also a matter ot' importance with reference to the general construction and arrangement ofthe device. The annular wall between the two concentric mercury-holding compartments permits the arrangement ot the valve and its stem at one side ot' the vertical center of the shell or body, thereby leaving room for an unobstructed inlet and outletpassage, and further provides a bearing for a steady-pin at the opposite side of said vertical center of the shell or body. The float and divided mercury-holding chamber also occupy a minimum extent of space.

The bosses or bearings 29, in which the up! per ends of the valve-stem and steady-pin are screwed, are arranged to extend through the annular top ot the tloat and have each an annular iiange 30, which tits against the float so as to provide atight joint between the two. The lower ends of the bearings 29 extend below the top wall of the float and are beveled or tapered in correspondence with the flared or enlarged upper ends of the passages which are formed in the annular Wall 9 for the valvestem and steady-pin. By such arrangement the oat preparatory to applying the valve and steady-pin can be depressed and adjusted so that the lower ends of the bearings 29 shall enter the upper ends of said passages in the annular wall, and hence without trouble and loss of time the ends of the valve-stem and steady-pin can be applied to said bearings.

Certain matters of improvement herein involved are also applicable to the construction of the m ercurial gas-governor described in our application, Serial No. 412,988, filed November 24, 1891, as a division of this application and involving a construction which provides for the downward tlow of gas through the governor.

What We claim as our invention is- 1. In a mercurial gas-governor, the pressuredistributing chamber provided with an inletport valved at its supply side and arranged to establish direct communication between the pressure-distributing chamber and the mainservice supply, an open delivery-passa ge leading from the pressure-distributing chamber and permitting the uninterrupted flow of gas from said chamber to the point of service, the two concentric mercury holding compartments separated by a partition-wall and each containing a body of mercury, the open-bot tom float constructed with concentric side walls which dip into the mercury within the two mercury-holding compartments and providing a pressure-chamber which is in open communication with the pressure-distributing chamber by a passage formed through the partition-wall between the two mercury-holding compartments, and the valve arranged to open atthe supply side of the inlet-port for the pressure-distributing chamber and having its stem extended upwardly within a passage through the partition-wall between the `two mercury-holding compartments and con'- nected with the float, substantially as described.

2. In a mercurial gas-governor, the governor shell or body provided with a centrally and horizontally arranged pressure-distributing chamber D, an inlet-port formed through the bottom wall of the pressuredistributing chamber and arranged to establish direct communication bet-Ween said chamber and the main-service supply, an open deliverypassage 12, leading directly upward from the central portion of the pressure-distributing chamber and arranged to permit the uninterrupted tiow of gas from said chamber to a burner, and an annular mercury-holding chamber surrounding the delivery-passage, combined with an annular inverted cup-float E, positioned for operation around said delivery-passage and arranged to dip into the mercury in the annular mercuryholding chamber, and a valve arranged to open at the supply side of the pressure-distrib uting cham ber and having its stem extended upwardly and connected with the float, the pressurechamber provided by the space within the iioat being in open communication with the pressuredistributing chamber by a passage IOO IIO

leading directly upward from the latter, substantially as described.

3. In a mercurial gas-governor, the governorshell orbod yA, provided with a centrallyarranged pressure-distributing chamber D, havinganin1et-port,areceiving-chamberO,arranged below the pressure-distributing chamber and comm unicating therewith through the said port, a neck 13, arranged at the center of the bottom portion of the shell orbody and providinga passage 14, which opens into= the receiving-chamber C, and which, together with said chamber, constitutes a portion of the main-service-supply passage, an open passage l2, leading directly upward from the center of the pressure-distributing chamber and in alignment with passage 14.-, and an annular mercury-holding chamber arranged over the pressure-distributing chamber and divided by an annular partition-wall into two compartments, each containing a body of mercury, combined with an annular cup-iioat E, arranged to dip into the mercury in said mercury-holding compartments, and a valve B, arranged to open at the supply side of port l and having its stem extended upwardly through a passage in the annular partitionwall and connected with the float, the pressure-chamber which is provided by the space within the iioat being in open communication with the pressure-distributing chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a mercurial gas-governor, the governor shell or body provid ed with the pressure-distributing chamber D, having a supplyport l, and the annular mercury-holding chamber divided by an annular partitionwall 9 into two compartments, combined with the annular inverted cup-fioat E, having its concentric walls arranged to dip into mercury within the two compartments of the mercury-holding chamber, said Iioat forming a pressure-chamber which is in open communication with the pressure-distributing chamber through a passage in the annular wall 9, a valve B, arranged at the supply side of port l and having its stem 2 extended up through both the pressure-distributing chamber D and a passage l0 in the annular partition-wall 9 and connected with the iloat between the two 5o annular concentric Walls of the same, and a f In a mercurial gas-governor, the governor shell or body provided with an inlet and outlet and a partition having a port which the governing-valveis adapted to close, and further provided with an annular Inercury-holding chamber `subdivided by an annular partition-Wall 9 into two concentric compartments, each containing a body of mercury, combined with the annular inverted cup-float having its concentric walls arranged to dip into the mercury in the mercury-holding compartments and a governing-valve having its stem extended up through a passage in the annular partition-wall 9 and connected with the ioat, substantially as described. y

6. In a mercurial gas-governor, the governor shell or body provided with an inlet and an'outlet and a port which the governorvalve is adapted to close, and further provided with an annular mercury-holding chamber divided by an annular wall 9 into two mercury-holding compartments, in combination with a iioat E, provided with a downwardly-projecting bearing 29, and the governing-valve having its stem connected with the float, said bearing being arranged at a point over the annular Wall 9, and said wall being provided with a passage having its upper end adapted to receive the said bearing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

VAN H. HIGGINS. VILLIAM D. SMITH.

Vitnesses:

FREDK. H. MILLS, CHAs. G. PAGE. 

